Parang-ing for Jesus: Meet Viva Jesús!

Published by CN Admin2 at December 20, 2023

Tags

By Renee Smith

University students who came together in prayer and worship found they were a talented group of musicians and bound by their unwavering faith and love for music, Viva Jesús (pronounced Viva-Hey-Suse) was formed.

The Catholic News discovered this Parang band who accepted their divine purpose to glorify God through their melodies.

Born out of The UWI, St Augustine’s Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group back in 1988, the group’s mission has always been to celebrate the birth of Jesus by spreading Christmas cheer to as many as possible, led then by Suzanne Bishop and guided by musical director, Chris Jagroop.

Through every performance since, the band remained true to their purpose—to glorify God and spread the message of love and unity.

Viva Jesús comprises close to 20 exceptional individuals, each a virtuoso. Lead vocalist Celeste Pereira enchants with a voice that matches her name where her melodies bridge the earthly and the celestial.

The string instrument players’ nimble fingers weave intricate melodies, and even young flautist, Cassidy Gaulteau, adds a classical touch to their harmonies.

At 23 years old, Celeste says every time she performs, she sees it as a form of ministry. “In every song that we sing, we tell the true story of Christmas and so we are evangelising to others. It is an honour to be able to do that,” she shared.

Their journey and growth to date are a testament to the transformative power of faith and music, proving that harmony, both in music and in life, could lead to greatness.

Claude ‘Veron’ Rose who has been with the band since its inception and is the band’s current leader noted many locals do not speak or understand Spanish therefore the group focuses on body movement and “vibes” with one another to convey the positive messages sung through their music.

Claude ‘Veron’ Rose – the band’s current leader

“We believe that we must carry the joy of the Christ-child in our music. Many Parang songs today do not follow that. It’s our mantra that the message of Jesus should be shared,” band member, Marcia Chan Pak chimed in.

Their lyrics draw inspiration from the teachings of love, compassion, and hope found in various religious texts.

Viva Jesús has nine original compositions composed and arranged by Jagroop: Jesús La Razon (Jesus is the reason), Por Qué (Why?), Gloria a Dios (Glory to God), Vamos a Belén (Let’s Go to Bethlehem), Ave Maria (Hail Mary), Tiempo Para Todo (A time for everything), Rio Manzanares (Manzanares River), Si Creo (from the Roman Catholic Creed: I Believe), Serenata (Serenade).

Chris Jagroop (Musical Director)

“Viva Jesus means ‘long live Jesus’ and our group is committed to promoting that message in our original music. This is evident in Jesús Es La Razon, Por Qué, Gloria a Dios, and Vamos a Belén. I relied on scripture from the four Gospels as they described the Nativity. We stick to the theme of Christmas and I hope our audiences really get the messages we try to convey which is a child is born on to us, the Saviour of the world,” Jagroop said.

And so, the story of Viva Jesús continues this Christmas Season and beyond, echoing through the hearts of many across T&T.
***************************************************************************************

For bookings, email vivajesus091@gmail.com or follow them on Instagram @vivajesusparang